Apparatus for the continuous production of curds

Abstract

Apparatus for the continuous production of curds for use in cheese making, wherein renneted or acidified milk or mixture thereof is introduced under pulsation into a conduit whose wall is deformed under the effect of the pulsations and in which the curd is formed, and wherein the curd is collected at the outlet end of this conduit.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for the continuous production of curds for use in cheese making, comprising at least one coagulation unit in the form of a conduit in which the coagulum is formed, means for introducing and circulating renneted milk in this conduit, the term "renneted milk" indicating herein milk to which has been added one or more substances promoting the formation of a coagulum, such substances including enzymatic systems of which rennet is an example, acid substances and lactic ferments, and means for applying a pulsating effect to the flow of milk introduced into the conduit, and wherein the wall of this conduit is capable of being deformed under the effect of these pulsations. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means applying pulsations to the flow of milk entering the conduit also circulate the milk. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the aforementioned means are in the form of at least one pulsating pump. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means applying the pulsating effect to the flow of milk entering the conduit consist of at least one valve positioned in the path followed by the milk circulating upstream of the aforementioned conduit. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising automatic control means for controlling said valve. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an automatic device adapted for periodically opening and closing said valve. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit is in the form of a tube made of a material with a low modulus of elasticity. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a frame about said conduit, said conduit being in the form of a helically wound tube accommodated in said frame. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for applying external mechanical forces to said conduit in order to deform it, and wherein the means for applying the mechanical forces are adapted to cooperate with said frame to modify the winding diameter of the conduit. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises means for applying external mechanical forces to the conduit in order to deform it. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit has a vertical terminal section with an upper edge, and said apparatus further comprises a cutting unit positioned above said upper edge of said conduit for acting in a substantially horizontal plane.